482 REPORT OF THE COMMTSStONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tot their services had been paid, the residue of the money received by 

 them from rents, if any, shoiikl be paid to the board of freehoklers and 

 forwarded to the trustees of the State school fund to be used in the 

 sup))ort of the public schools. Iii 1870 tliis act was sunpleiiiented by 

 another extending the original boundaries and the term of the lease 

 from five to ten years, l^hese regulations are still in force, and the 

 grounds are rented by the planters at rates varying from 50 cents to 

 $5 per acre, according to qualify and desirability for oyster-planting 

 purposes. In 1881 the first section of the act of 1801, relating to the 

 boundaries, was amended, and the board of freeholders were authorized 

 to possess the oyster-grounds of the river to let for oyster-planting pur- 

 poses for an additional term of twenty years, or until March 14, 1901. 



Although there is a comparatively lai-ge number of persons engaged 

 in ])lanting oysters, the business has declined to very small i)roportions, 

 and the planters derive less income from it than from farming and other 

 branches of iiulustry. 



The greater part of the seed oysters used is obtained from the river, 

 being either the iwoduct of the natural beds or of the set of spat secured 

 by artificial means on the cultivated grounds. Considerable (luantities 

 are also brought from Baruegat Bay. Tiiese are planted in September. 



One of the most interesting features of the system of oyster cultiva- 

 tion practiced in this river is the use of tin cans as spat-collectors. For 

 the i^ast two or three years many wagonloads of tiu cans have been 

 distributed every season upon the cultivated grounds with results that 

 have been gratifying to the oystermen. The cans possess the advan- 

 tage not only of being successful spat-collectors, but also, when having 

 served that end, of disintegrating and leaving the beds uneiuaimbered. 

 Shells are also planted for a similar ijurpose. The river being closed 

 to navigation, except for small boats, the need of cheaper means of 

 transportation than by rail causes considerable difficulty in obtaining 

 shells for planting, and was no doubt instrumental in suggesting the 

 use of tin cans, but these can not be procured in quantities large enough 

 to supply the demand. A fairly good set occurs quite regularly in the 

 river every year on the natural beds aiul also on the cultch planted on 

 the cultivated grounds, due probably to tiie favorable conditions afibrded 

 by the warm water and muddy bottom for breeding food for the oysters. 



Most of the oysters are taken up for market in October, iSTovember, 

 and December. They are graded into two sizes, "box oysters" and 

 " cullens," and sold at an average price of $7 per thousand for box 

 oysters and !*.'3.50 for cullens. The annual yield is not more than from 

 4,000 to 5,000 bushels. They are taken with tongs in small boats, which 

 are either the kind known in this region as '^garveys" (a small square- 

 ended scow), which are about 15 feet in length and cost when new from 

 .^S to $10, or small bat<'an.\ which cost from -'^20 to -^.^O <'ach. There are 

 DO men engaged to a very linuted extent in the planting operations, 

 all of whom are native American citizens. The extent of area utilized 

 for oyster cultivation does not probably exceed 200 acres. 



